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Fresh clashes between government forces, opposition gunmen rock Yemen’s capital

20 October 2011 20:54 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Fresh street battle flared up Thursday in Yemen’s capital city of Sanaa between government forces and opposition gunmen demanding the ouster of the long-time ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Heavy gunfight took place between the government troops and armed rebels of opposition tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar in several neighborhoods of Hassaba district in downtown Sanaa, where the residential compound of al-Ahmar is located.

Several witnesses and residents told Xinhua that "surprising" gunfight erupted "simultaneously" with the news broadcasted live by international satellite TV channels about the death of Muammar Gaddafi and the end of his era.

"It appeared that the death of Gaddafi is a strong message to Saleh," said a protest organizer at the Change Square nearby Hassaba, where thousands of protesters have been camping out since late January to press for Saleh’s resignation.

"The rival forces in Hassaba exchanged mortar, artillery, machine-guns and anti-aircraft weapons ... Clouds of heavy smoke were seen belching from nearly 10 citizens’ houses after being hit by mortar shells," two witnesses told Xinhua.

No reports on casualties were immediately available.

The escalated violence came a day after Saleh, who confronted nine-month-long protests calling for an end to his 33-year rule, said he was ready to sign a power-transfer deal initiated by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) if the opposition provides guarantees from the United States, Europe and Gulf countries for implementing the proposal.

In response, opposition spokesman Mohamed Qahtan said in a statement on Thursday that "Saleh’s resignation will be forced only through peaceful escalated protest movement."

"Saleh will not give up power voluntarily, not today, not tomorrow, not 2013 or even 2020," Qahtan said as he played down Saleh’s request of "unidentified guarantees."